The Demon Lords-Chapter 713 - 149: Great Wind! _6

Sang Hu suggested gravely, "How about we wait and see? Let the Chu people grind down the spirits of the Yan people at Jade Plate City for a bit longer. The Yan Army's Northern Defense and Southern Peace armies are their true elites. Allowing them to be stalled at Jade Plate City for a few more days would make it easier for us to strike when the decisive battle comes."

Sang Hu held a high position, and his argument also held water. Using the lives of the Chu people to wear down the spirits of the Yan people was indeed a profitable deal. The other few generals of the wild people who favored aggressive warfare could not object to this plan; after all, they were still very protective of the lives of their own warriors.

The King of the Wild People smacked his lips, shook his head, and said, "The news can't be blocked for long."

This is truly the crux of the problem.

He continued, "I can actively block the news from the eastern Snow Sea Pass, but the problem is, half of my own army is directly under my command, and the other half is contributed by the tribes that follow me. They originally all had connections with their matriarchal clan's tribes in the Snowfield. Once they looted something, they would immediately dispatch people to transport it back, like hamsters hoarding supplies. This blockade won't last long. Once the tribal chieftains realize they have lost contact with their matriarchal clan's tribes, they'll certainly grow suspicious. It's been some time since Snow Sea Pass fell, and the news is becoming increasingly difficult to conceal."

What the King of the Wild People found most frustrating was that his original intention had been to preserve Situ Yi's puppet regime. He had wanted to support it, much like the Yan people supported Situ Yu, to let this local regime serve his long-term needs by continuously supplying resources. The Yan people across the river, on the other hand, didn't have to worry about food and weapons because they had completed their spring plowing and autumn harvest this year.

But the King of the Wild People was helpless. Rather than calling him a king, it would be more accurate to say he was the alliance chief among the most powerful tribes of the Snowfield. After entering the pass, he could no longer control the army of the wild people from looting, even though he knew this behavior was akin to draining the pond to catch all the fish. But that's why they were willing to follow him—to plunder people, wealth, and food. If he didn't let them do that, why should they follow him? Why should they obey his commands? Why not find someone else? When you can no longer represent a group's interests, the group will abandon you. This is an unchanging truth in all walks of life, established since ancient times.

The Chu people were even more ruthless, directly expelling Situ Yi's little court from Jade Plate City. The pseudo dynasty, forced to relocate its capital like a laughingstock, instantly lost all legitimacy and legality. Situ Yi had been thoroughly ruined.

Moreover, the wild people had always been desperately poor. Driven by this, they moved everything they saw—food, tools, people—back to their homes. In the end, they suddenly found they couldn't even satisfy their own basic need for rations! What the hell is this?!

However, the King of the Wild People knew in his heart that he couldn't entirely blame them. Even he, while constantly proclaiming that they stood on the ancestral lands where their Holy Race once thrived, was actually preparing to retreat to the Snowfield at any moment. "As long as the green hills remain, there will be no lack of firewood," he thought. This expedition had already yielded enough profit, multiplied countless times over. Once back in the Snowfield, his prestige would allow him to be truly crowned as the co-ruler of the entire Snowfield. His power would be further strengthened, and the many tribes of the Snowfield would submit at his feet.

Since he himself thought this way, the tribal chieftains and generals under him naturally harbored similar thoughts. If things truly went south, they could always retreat to the Snowfield. So, they hurried to transport their looted goods back, terrified that if a retreat was called, they wouldn't have time to move their spoils and slaves. What a terrible loss that would be!

The King of the Wild People also realized that some individuals had changed after entering the pass, becoming somewhat unfamiliar to him. These were people who, when they first started out, had been brave, loyal, and willing to sacrifice themselves for the future of the Holy Race, possessing great vision. This included some of his own direct generals, those qualified to sit in his command tent.

He himself was still hungry for more, filled with a great desire to continue advancing. Yet, some were already content, yearning for comfort and ease.

"Our King, we will do as you command! We will always follow your lead!" Sang Hu declared, kneeling before the King of the Wild People.

Seeing this, the other generals also knelt.

"We swear to follow the King's lead!"

The King of the Wild People sighed, then said, "We are in great danger now, truly great danger. But it is precisely at times like these that we absolutely cannot show any weakness. When dealing with wolf packs on the Snowfield, we all know one truth: the more fear you show before them, the more relentlessly they will pursue and attack you!

"That Southern Marquis of the Yan people... he has likely guessed that we have problems in our rear. No, I even suspect that the fall of Snow Sea Pass was orchestrated by him—it's all part of his grand plan! He is seeking a decisive battle with us, firmly believing that his elite Yan State cavalry can crush us in open field combat."

He is wrong. He is gravely wrong!

"Our King, let us fight!"

"Fight, Our King!"

"Yes, let's teach the Yan people another lesson!"

The generals roared, clamoring for battle.

But the King of the Wild People raised his hand, and instantly, everyone fell silent.

"Heh." The King of the Wild People chuckled, then raised his head, clenched his fists, and declared, "He wants a decisive battle? Then I shall give him one! All tribes are to begin preparations immediately. At dawn, our entire army will cross the river!"

"Cross the river?" one general asked, puzzled.

"Aren't we supposed to go to Jade Plate City?" another questioned.

"This..." a third began, hesitating.

The King of the Wild People stood up and announced loudly, "The Southern Marquis of the Yan people wants to use his most elite troops to fight our Holy Warriors. But I will not play his game! If the Yan Army can cross the river to reach us, then our Holy Warriors can certainly cross the river to reach them!

"Tomorrow morning, our army will cross the river! We will attack the Yan military encampments on the opposite bank!

"He wants a decisive battle, doesn't he? He wants to finish us off before spring, doesn't he? Fine! Then I, your King, will shatter this entire game board!"

Sang Hu voiced his concern, "Our King, what if the Yan's Northern Defense and Southern Peace armies rush to reinforce them?"

The King of the Wild People waved his hand dismissively. "Qu TianNan is no fool. And that Zhuguai of Chu, while cautious in his military deployments, will not fail to see what we intend. As long as our forces cross the river and push west, Qu TianNan will undoubtedly commit everything to pin down those two elite Yan armies—the Northern Defense and Southern Peace—outside Jade Plate City.

"Once we fight our way to the western bank and breach the Yan main camp, we can then advance to easily take Ying Capital City! Food will no longer be a problem! Half of Cheng State, perhaps even the entire Jin State, will become a domain for our Holy Warriors to roam freely!

"Tomorrow, with this victory, the Yan people will suffer their second historic defeat at Wang River!

"By then, it won't be the Yan people trying to drive us out. That Southern Marquis should be more concerned with how to lead his men safely back to Yan State!"

The King of the Wild People panted heavily, his face growing increasingly flushed. He declared, "If the Southern Marquis of the Yan people dares to make such a high-stakes gamble, then I, your King, will play him for even higher stakes!"